Ezra Butler Scouting Report

Ezra Butler, OLB, Nevada

Butler started his career at Nevada as a defensive end during his redshirt freshman season. In 2005 he was moved to outside linebacker where he started every game for the Wolf pack, sharing the team lead with 5.5 sacks. In 2006 he led Nevada in tackles during the regular season (as well as during its Bowl against the University of Miami). He started every game during his senior season, making 71 tackles with 7.5 sacks and also made the All WAC Second Team. Butler is big, well built and very fast for a linebacker (4.49-40). He is agile and moves well and has quick change of direction, moving well in traffic. He closes quickly on ball carriers, getting good deep drops on zone coverage. He can run with any tight end (and most receivers) and possesses good hands for interceptions. Butler plays sideline to sideline, as a good pass rusher and is very competitive and a team player. Although big and strong, Butler seems to wear down when run at. He must avoid biting on play action fakes, because sometimes he tends to gamble. I think he just needs on the field maturation, because he did not fully dominate at his level. Ezra Butler had the type of talent that could change a game plan. In fact, he has as much athletic ability as most of the OLB in this draft class. Butler really hurt his draft status by not participating at the NFL Combine, despite the fact that he received an invitation. Once projected as high as a late second rounder, the athletic Butler has slipped to the late middle rounds. Nevertheless, the team that takes a chance on him will have a really motivated player that will try to put this and a somewhat lackluster 2007 season behind him.